A race is never won at the starting line.
We must keep our eyes on our destination. If we run too hard at the beginning, we might burn out and never reach the end.
The finish line is what counts. The one who crosses over is the one who wins the prize.
Acts 2:38 tells us how to enter the race.
“And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 says our winner’s wreath is a spiritual one.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 encourages us to run with an even stride.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 allows love as the measure of our strength.
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
Hebrews 11:13 promises that even if the assurances of God slip through our earthly fingers, we will discover them in the heavenly beyond.
“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”
A race, any race, is exhausting. It takes everything from us. And yet, it requires us to give everything if we want to win. When we toss aside everything to run to Christ, we’ve begun a race he will help us win.
Jesus is the prize we’ll be glad we pursued.
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